Two cops sufer injury when man sets himself on fire and embraces them

By Norman Palihawadane

Two policemen were injured when they were embraced by a person who set himself on fire, on Sunday at Valaichchenai.

Valaichchenai police said that the two policemen, one SI and a PC, had been dispatched following a complaint from a girl that her father had poured petrol on himself and was trying to burn himself. When the policemen went to the house at Mancholai School Lane, in Valaichchenai, and broke open the door the man, who had already set fire to himself, embraced the two policemen. Neighbours rushed to the scene and doused the fire.

The injured policemen and the suspect were admitted to the Batticaloa Hospital.

Police said that the suspect’s wife was serving as a domestic help in a West Asian country and he had been threatening to kill himself as she had failed to send him money.

Walachchenai police are conducting investigations.